| Year | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | R | 6,309 | 8,748 | 15,323 | |
| 2020 | R | 6,107 | 8,321 | 14,655 | |
| 2016 | R | 4,979 | 6,915 | 12,660 | |
| 2012 | D | 6,473 | 5,737 | 12,402 | |
| 2008 | D | 7,235 | 5,510 | 13,009 | |
| 2004 | R | 6,272 | 6,295 | 12,740 | |
| 2000 | D | 5,639 | 5,401 | 11,428 | |
| 1996 | D | 5,383 | 3,807 | 10,539 | |
| 1992 | D | 5,193 | 3,491 | 11,651 | |
| 1988 | R | 4,765 | 5,368 | 10,210 | |
| 1984 | R | 3,917 | 6,328 | 10,298 | |
| 1980 | R | 4,164 | 5,662 | 10,702 | |
| 1976 | R | 4,479 | 5,532 | 10,134 | |
| 1972 | R | 3,625 | 5,070 | 8,863 | |
| 1968 | R | 3,671 | 4,007 | 8,306 | |
| 1964 | D | 5,520 | 2,918 | 8,444 | |
| 1960 | R | 4,122 | 4,867 | 8,999 | |
| 1956 | R | 3,014 | 5,313 | 8,336 | |
| 1952 | R | 3,114 | 5,235 | 8,376 | |
| 1948 | R | 3,339 | 3,913 | 7,399 | |
| 1944 | R | 3,398 | 4,095 | 7,530 | |
| 1940 | R | 4,242 | 4,630 | 8,892 | |
| 1936 | D | 4,542 | 3,509 | 8,350 | |
| 1932 | D | 4,475 | 3,256 | 8,115 | |
| 1928 | R | 2,624 | 4,129 | 6,799 | |
| 1924 | R | 1,314 | 3,701 | 6,371 | |
| 1920 | D | 2,184 | 2,179 | 4,570 | |
| 1916 | R | 2,177 | 2,360 | 4,704 | |
| 1912 | D | 1,790 | 1,240 | 4,721 | |
| 1908 | R | 1,799 | 2,706 | 4,765 | |
| 1904 | R | 1,235 | 3,155 | 4,679 | |
| 1900 | R | 2,336 | 3,152 | 5,596 | |
| 1896 | R | 2,487 | 2,697 | 5,325 | |
| 1892 | D | 2,310 | 1,481 | 4,181 | |
| 1888 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1876 | — | — | — | — |
Manistee sits along Lake Michigan's eastern shore with a shrinking manufacturing base and an aging population that has shifted the county's presidential margins steadily rightward over the past four election cycles.
The Democratic margin in Manistee County has rarely exceeded thirty-one points in modern history; the Republican margin has rarely exceeded forty-one points. 2024 delivered the county to the Republican candidate by sixteen points.
Manistee County's demographics resemble the country more than they resemble most counties. A 89% non-Hispanic-white share, a 13% poverty rate, and a median household income of $63,516 — all within the broad national range. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Calhoun County and Perry County.